At the time of its release, I Am Legend received widespread critical acclaim. The majority of it focused on its depiction of a desolate Manhattan, now being reclaimed by nature. Lions and deer roamed Times Square. Vegetation poked out of the concrete. Glass facades of buildings had collapsed, exposing their steel underpinnings. The emptiness of the City That Never Sleeps was enough, on its own, to create an uncanny, creepy atmosphere.
But bring up the movie today, and most of the dialogue concerns the ending, which was different from the novel’s and different from the filmmakers’ original intentions. Thanks to DVD / Blu-Ray extras, we can watch the filmed alternate ending and decide for ourselves: Is this a more sophisticated, impactful ending to the movie? Or had I Am Legend simply not earned this ending, by not laying the necessary groundwork for it?
I Am Legend is currently available on HBO Max and Netflix. Here are 30 trivia facts and Easter eggs you might have missed the first time around.
